Sad sunflowers, along with happy zinnias. Do you grow dill? I love the aroma from the seedhead.

Sad sunflowers

Happy Zinnias

image from positive bloom.com 

Sad sunflowers, along with Happy Zinnias.  Do you have dill growing in your garden?  

Still good morning. Whoops got interrupted before I sent this.  Good afternoon.  I have been outside all morning, watering and moving plants for my summer garden.  I like how it looks all ready and more to move and grow. I need to harvest all those lovely peppers in the 4” pots.  Some are blossoming again, and if I pick these see if they do too.  BUT they dry out quickly with such little dirt. If I am watering each day, it will be ok.  Temperature is down from yesterday to 76F(24C), less humidity and we have overcast sky.  So, working outside isn’t too bad.    I know you gardeners are watering, and watering more.  Containers, baskets and gardens will need lots of attention from all this hot, humid weather from Friday to Monday. Stay cool, stay safe, and drink. 
 
Australia family and friends
 Evelyn wrote this Monday morning, “Good morning. Today will be a mild sunny day, with rain coming sometime tonight. I plan to spend my time outside today. I can just imagine how suffocating the heat and humidity feels. Dad would say that is what makes the corn grow and mature.” 
Their weather for Wednesday will be same rain showers with a high of 54F(12C) Continue to stay dry, stay safe. 
 
I was sad when I saw this sunflower look so dry.  That was 24 hours without watering.  I watered and before I came home it looked more alert.  The plant will be deadheaded and clean up the old blossoms and that should be fine.  Hot, humid weather without rain is hard on us, and our plants.  It will be ok and look like it did at the fairgrounds.  Water makes miracles happen. 
 
I love dill, I love to smell it and have it cut inside the house for the aroma.  I know it is too late for you to plant, but for next spring here is what to do. 
 
Planting and Growing Dill Written By:  Catherine Boeckmann
With its delicate fronds, tangy flavor, and natural pest-repelling powers, dill is the herb that does it all. Whether you’re crafting crunchy pickles, tossing together a creamy potato salad, or looking to attract pollinators to your garden, this feathery favorite is a must-grow. Best of all? It lives up to its nickname “dill weed”—because it practically grows like one! Let’s dig into how to plant, grow, and harvest dill with ease.
Native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean, dill is most at home in warmer climates. It’s an annual herb, so to create a permanent patch of dill, allow some of the plants to flower and go to seed each year—you’ll have plenty of early dill to start the next growing season.
Dill attracts beneficial insects such as wasps and other predatory insects to your garden and is a host plant for the caterpillar of the black swallowtail butterfly.
Planting
Where to Plant Dill
Dill plants grow best in full sun (6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight). Also, choose a location that is protected from strong winds, as dill’s tall foliage can be blown over easily.
Choose a planting site with well-draining soil rich in organic matter. The soil’s pH should ideally be between slightly acidic and neutral (6.5–7.0).
Plant dill near cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and other brassicas; dill is thought to improve their growth and protect them from pests. Keep it away from carrots, however, as it can decrease yields. Learn more about companion planting!
According to Jill MacKenzie and Shirley Mah Kooyman of the University of Minnesota Extension, “Growing dill indoors is possible, as long as you provide enough light.”
When to Plant Dill  
Here is one plant that you need to know what the soil temperature is when you plant them.  This May the soil temperature was cooler than this.  We must be weather wise when it comes to gardening.  NOT what we did in the years before.
Dill seeds should be sown directly into the garden (dill puts down a taproot, so, like carrots, it doesn’t transplant well) after the threat of frost has passed in the spring. For the best germination results, the soil temperature should be between 60° and 70ºF (15° and 21°C). Seedlings should appear in 10 to 14 days.
If you’re planting dill for pickling, sow dill seeds every few weeks until midsummer to ensure a constant supply into fall.
How to Plant Dill
Sow dill seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Seedlings should appear after 10 to 14 days. Wait another 10 to 14 days, then thin the plants to about 10 to 12 inches apart (if they aren’t already spaced well enough).
Harvesting
As soon as the plant has four to five leaves, you can start harvesting. Harvest older leaves first. Pinch off the leaves or cut them off with scissors.
If you have a lot of plants, you can take entire stalks.
Wit and Wisdom
For sweeter breath, chew dill seeds.
If you grow your own dill and cucumbers, you can make dill pickles!
Have you ever wondered, what exactly is a “kosher” dill pickle? Kosher is from a Hebrew word meaning “right,” “proper,” or “fit.” It is usually applied to food, especially to meat that has been slaughtered and prepared according to the prescribed manner. Kosher salt is not treated with additives and is as close to pure solar salt as you can get. If you taste a kosher dill pickle, you’ll know it has been prepared in the best possible way.
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/plant/dill
Till next time this is Becky Litterer , Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse  images from Becky's Greenhouse, positive bloom.com